Legend of a Cowgirl

"Legend of a Cowgirl" is a song by American singer-songwriter and rapper Imani Coppola from her debut album Chupacabra. Upon its release, the song was successful, garnering favorable critical reception and peaking within the Top 40 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The song also entered singles charts in Australia, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The song remains Coppola's only solo top 40 hit in each of the countries, making her a one-hit-wonder (though she later re-appeared on the UK Singles Chart as part of the R&B/pop duo Little Jackie).

"Legend of a Cowgirl"
Single by Imani Coppola
from the album Chupacabra
ReleasedAugust 12, 1997 (1997-08-12)[1]
Recorded1997
Genre
Length3:44[1]
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Mangini
Imani Coppola singles chronology
"Legend of a Cowgirl"
(1997)		 "I'm a Tree"
(1997)

The song's success is largely credited to its music video, which depicted Coppola as a waitress at a diner, daydreaming about life as a cowgirl, alien, and rock star. The video became a hit on MTV, and received a nomination at Billboard's 1998 Music Video Awards, in the category of "Pop: Best New Artist Clip." The song and video have been included on retrospective "best-of" lists by VH1, Spin, and Billboard.

Background and composition

Coppola wrote the song while she was in college. The lyrics were inspired by "love-life chatter" she overheard in her dorm room.[4] The song includes cowboy and Western-related metaphors for sex,[5] and is considered to embody female sexual independence.[6] The song samples Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" extensively.[7][3] Coppola disliked the song, calling it the worst song on Chupacabra.[8]

Critical reception

Larry Flick, writing for Billboard, gave the song a positive review upon its release, describing it as "quirky and rife with novelty value" and also praising the chorus's memorability.[3] Allmusic's Bradley Torreano considered the song a highlight of its parent album, commenting that on the song, "her personality shines through."[9] Entertainment Weekly's review of Chupacabra, although critical of the album overall, praised "Legend of a Cowgirl," remarking that it "works the best equestrian metaphors for sex since Ginuwine's 'Pony,'" going on to deem the song "as good as it gets on her debut album."[5] Ann Powers, writing for The New York Times, deemed the song "a sunny declaration of sexual independence that the Spice Girls would admire."[6]

Accolades

In 1998, the music video earned a nomination at the Billboard's Music Video Awards, in the category of "Pop: Best New Artist Clip."[10] The video ultimately lost to Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn."[11]

The song and video have also received retrospective accolades. VH1 ranked the song at number 21 on their list of "40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '90s."[12] In 2014, Spin included the song on their list of "45 Hay-Ya! Moments in Rap and Country's Uncomfortable History," reflecting that "the Lilith-era '90s fostered a slew of quirky yet radio-ready woman-power anthems, and Imani Coppola's whiskey-swilling midnight marauder was one of the best."[13] In October 2017, the song ranked at number 55 on Billboard's list of the 100 Best Pop Songs of 1997.[2]

Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Billboard The 100 Best Pop Songs of 1997 55 [2]
Spin 45 Hay-Ya! Moments in Rap and Country's Uncomfortable History not ranked [13]
VH1 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 90s 21 [12]

Music video

The song had an accompanying music video, directed by McG, who also directed videos for the Barenaked Ladies' "One Week" and Fastball's "The Way."[14] The video depicts Coppola as a waitress at a diner, daydreaming about life as a biker chick and '60s singer and dancing on a counter.[4][15][16] According to Coppola, the video started as an idea she had for a movie about women who "love 'em and leave 'em and ride off into the sunset."[17] Of the filming, Coppola stated that "it was very uncomfortable 'cause we had no room and their penises and their bums are just flopping around," says Coppola. "It was like, 'Whoops, sorry. Didn't mean to touch you!' But they were all gay, so it didn't really matter. They were cute though. It was a shame."[18]

Upon its release, the music video for "Legend of a Cowgirl" became a hit on MTV.[7][18][19][20] It spent two weeks at number 19 on the Billboard's MTV Video Monitor,[21][22] and also received play on The Box.[23][24]

Commercial performance

In the United States, the song peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart. It remained Coppola's sole appearance on the Hot 100 until 2001, when she re-appeared alongside fellow one-hit wonders the Baha Men with "You All Dat," which achieved a peak of number 94 on the chart.[2][25] The song also peaked within the top 40 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40, where it reached number 21 and spent 14 weeks on the chart, and the Adult Top 40, where it peaked at number 24 and spent 20 weeks on the chart.[26] The single peaked at number 41 both on the US Hot Singles Sales chart and the Radio Songs chart, spending 16 and 13 weeks on the charts, respectively.[26]

The song also charted throughout Europe. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart dated 28 February 1998, at its peak of number 32.[27] It fell to number 47 the following week, and spent a total of three consecutive weeks on the chart; it remains her only UK chart entry.[28] In the Netherlands, the song debuted at number 80 on the singles chart dated 31 January 1998, and eventually peaked at number 65, spending one week at its peak and a total of eight weeks in the top 100.[29] On the German Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 99 on the chart dated 16 March 1998 and eventually achieved a peak of 94, spending a total of five weeks on the chart.[30] On Belgium's Ultratop (Flanders) singles chart, the song debuted at number 50 on the chart dated 28 February 1998, and fell off the following week.[31] The song also charted in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 20 and spent nine weeks on the chart.[32]

In Oceania, the song likewise appeared on the charts. The song was successful in New Zealand, debuting at number 43 on the New Zealand Singles chart dated 1 February 1998 and peaking at number 20, spending a total of 9 weeks in the top 50.[32] On the Australia Singles Chart, the song peaked at number 55.[33] The single placed at number 76 on Australia's Triple J Hottest 100 songs of 1997,[34] making Coppola one of only four solo female artists to appear on the listing that year.[35]

"Legend of a Cowgirl" remains Coppola's only charting solo song in every country except Australia (where follow-up "I'm a Tree" peaked at number 201),[36] effectively rendering Coppola a one-hit wonder.[2][37] However, Coppola achieved some success in 2008 with programmer Adam Pallin, as the pop/R&B duo Little Jackie, whose single "The World Should Revolve Around Me" was a top 40 hit in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[38][39]

Track listing
CD Single
No.TitleLength
1."Legend of a Cowgirl"3:44
Total length:3:44

[1]

Credits

Adapted from Chupacabra booklet and AllMusic.[40][41]

Charts
Chart (1997–1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[33] 55
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[42] 50
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[43] 14
Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 94
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[44] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 65
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 20
Scotland (OCC)[46] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[28] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 36
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 24
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[48] 21

References
  1. "Legend of a Cowgirl [CD5/Cassette Single]". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  2. Unteberger, Andrew. "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  3. Flick, Larry (16 August 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. 109 (33): 62. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  4. Amber, Jeannine (March 1998). "Imani Coppola: Career Cowgirl". Vibe. 6 (2): 60. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  5. Diehl, Matt. "Chupacabra Lead Performer: Imani Coppola". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  6. Powers, Ann. "Critic's Choice: Pop CD's — Take a Little Sass, Add Sunshine". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  7. "Loose canon" by Steve Smith Archived 24 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Time Out. 8 November 2007.]
  8. "Coppola's Goat of Many Colors 'Chupacabra' Album Proves Chirpy "Legend of a Cowgirl" Isn't a One-Hit Wonder". Daily News. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. Torreano, Bradley. "Review: "Chupacabra" – Imani Coppola". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  10. Hay, Carla (17 October 1998). "Imbruglia Leads Billboard Vid Nominees". Billboard: 103. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  11. Hay, Carla (21 November 1998). "Marilyn Manson, 'Nsync Lead Billboard Music Video Awards". Billboard. 110 (47): 88. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  12. "VH1's 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '90s". Top One Hit Wonders. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  13. "45 Hay-Ya! Moments in Rap and Country's Uncomfortable History:1997: Imani Coppola – "Legend of a Cowgirl"". Spin. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  14. "A Band Apart Congratulates..." Billboard. 110 (45): 20. 7 November 1998. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  15. Gardner, Elysa. "She's a Rainbow". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  16. Mumbi Moody, Nekesa. "Imani Coppola: Eclectic talents, eclectic album". South Coast Today. Gatehouse Media. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  17. Lilith Fair. "Imani Coppola" 1998. Archived 28 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  18. Toronto Sun. "Singer/violinist Imani strikes gold without even trying" by Jane Stevenson. 11 December 1997.
  19. "All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop" By Vladimir Bogdanov. Published 2003 by Backbeat Books
  20. Galindo, Brian. "18 Forgotten '90s One-Hit Wonders". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  21. "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard: 91. 1 November 1997. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  22. "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard. 109 (45): 90. 8 November 1997. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  23. "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard. 110 (2). 10 January 1998. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  24. "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard. 110 (3): 76. 17 January 1998. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  25. "Imani Coppola Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  26. "Chart Search: Imani Coppola". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  27. "Imani Coppola: Singles Chart History". Official Charts. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  29. "Imani Coppola – Legend of a Cowgirl". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Imani Coppola – Legend of a Cowgirl". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  31. "Chart History: Imani Coppola – Legend of a Cowgirl". Ultratop. Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  32. "Charts.nz – Imani Coppola – Legend of a Cowgirl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  33. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  34. "Hottest 100 1997". Triple J. ABC. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  35. Williams, Tom. "The Most Popular Hottest 100 of All Time is Being Replayed This Month". Music Feeds. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  36. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2015-06-05". Imgur. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  37. Galindo, Brian. "18 Forgotten '90s One-Hit Wonders". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  38. "Little Jackie chart history". Official Charts. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  39. Sexton, Pail. "The Verve Storms To No. 1 U.K. Debut". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  40. Coppola, Imani (1997). Chupacabra (Album booklet). Imani Coppola. Columbia Records. p. 1.
  41. "Credits: "Legend of a Cowgirl" [CD5]". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  42. "Ultratop.be – Imani Coppola – Legend of a Cowgirl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  43. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3389." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  44. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.10. 97 – 16.10. 97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 10 October 1997. p. 22. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  45. "Dutchcharts.nl – Imani Coppola – Legend of a Cowgirl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  46. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  47. "Imani Coppola Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  48. "Imani Coppola Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
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